Sophia's POV Michael's words hung heavy in the air. "Take off your clothes." I froze, his command piercing through the quiet confines of the car. For a moment, I considered defying him, throwing the door open, and running into the snow-covered street. But then reality came crashing down. I couldn't leave,Michael is the most powerful businessman in this city, and I can't afford to offend him. Michael was both my salvation and my obstacle. He was the only reason I wasn't drowning in debt, yet he was also the cage keeping me trapped. Even when I tried to free myself by resigning, I had no better alternative. There was no escaping from him. I smiled bitterly to myself, the gesture hollow and self-deprecating. What a pathetic existence. Michael noticed my silence, his sharp gaze unwavering. "If you refuse, I'll make things simple for you," he said, his voice cold and deliberate. "I can buy out your debt. It wouldn't take much effort." The weight of his words crushed me. My eyes fill
Sophia’s POV Michael’s gaze was all on me, dark as always. His sharp eyes lingering on the bandage wrapped around my arm. I expected his usual cold attitude or some rude remark, but instead, he sighed softly. That surprised me. The sign was quiet, almost weary, as though he carried a burden I couldn’t see. Without a word, he stood up and picked a shirt from his closet and dropped it to me to wear.“Come with me,” he said, in a calm but firm voice. I followed him downstairs to the dining room of his huge house, where the soft glare of candlelight radiated a table covered with the most exquisite dinner I’d ever seen. The rich aroma of freshly cooked steak, roasted vegetables, and decadent desserts filled the air. “What?” I felt my mouth shockingly open. What and why was he doing this? Only to make me be with him in this toxic relationship?“For your birthday,” Michael said simply, gesturing to the table. I stared at him, unsure of what to say. My birthday wasn’t that day, an
Sophia’s POV When I woke up the next morning, the memory of last night was clear.When we were about to get into the last step, I pushed Michael away for a moment of sober mind and ran back to my place.. I stared at the ceiling, I didn’t remember falling asleep.But Michael's cold eyes linger in my mind.I turned my head toward the nightstand, where my phone rested. As I reached for it, a sharp pain shot through my arm. The burn wound was still healing, a reminder of the chaos that seemed to follow me everywhere. Unlocking the phone, I noticed a new message from a colleague his name is Lincoln barrows : Linc : Sophia, Ms. Berlick’s client has been asking for you specifically. They’re unhappy with your replacement and are insisting you return to finish the project.I blinked at the screen, my heart sinking. Ms Berlick had replaced me with another interpreter after I left, but clearly, the arrangement hadn’t gone well. Linc: They’re furious. The meeting is in an hour. Please, c
Sophia's POVThe client walked in and sneered as he turned the camera on, its blinking red light a cruel reminder of my situation."You're going to make a great addition to my collection," he said, his voice dripping with malice.I froze as his fingers moved toward my shirt buttons, the small movements were irrigating and fear gripped me. He took his time, smirking, savoring my fear."I've been waiting for this since the first dinner," he said, leaning closer. His breath was warm against my skin, making my stomach crumble. "You were too perfect, sitting there all professional and composed.But now, you're mine."His words cut through me like ice.My mouth was blocked by a piece of tape, muffling my cries. My heart pounded violently, and I pulled at the ropes binding me to the chair, but they wouldn't come off.The conference room felt suffocating. It was well soundproofed I knew that much. Any scream, any desperate plea for help would die within these walls, unheard by anyone outside.
Michael’s POVI slammed the door open, But the sight before me was enough to freeze my blood.Sophia sat slumped in the chair, her arms bound tightly to the armrests, her head hanging low.The blouse she wore was disorganized, her tear streaked face turned slightly toward the camera that stood mocking her.I didn't need more than a second to understand what was happening.My jaw tightened, rage boiling in my chest as I stepped inside. The bastard responsible turned to face me, his annoyance melting into confusion."Who the hell"I didn't let him finish. My fist connected with his jaw, the crack of bone satisfying in a way that nothing else could be at that moment.I untied Sophia and we headed to the hospital I was a jerk. I didn’t deny that about myself. I had used Sophia’s desperation to force her compliance, and I’d made her surrender in ways that should have haunted me. But as I pulled that bastard away from her, watching his bloodied face crumble under my fists, I felt no regr
Sophia’s POVTwo days in the hospital felt like eternity, but stepping back into my life was nothing but comforting. Michael had forced my hand that night forcing me to agree to return to work, but this time not as a translator, but as his Secretary. Personal Secretary. The kind of living with him directly. Tough I had not moved in with him.That night had shattered something between us. The little spark of ambiguity, the possibility that maybe, just maybe, Michael saw me as more than a possession, was gone. He was a businessman, a ruthless one, and I was nothing more than someone he controlled. Even though he rescued me, it wasn’t out of kindness. Michael never did anything without a reason. And as much as I hated to admit it, I had become part of his plans, a tool in his carefully crafted world. Working as Michael’s Secretary was vastly different from my time as a translator. Everyday I try to balance my act, and keep my distance while fulfilling his endless demands. I sta
Sophia’s POVReturning to the company as Mr Mahone’s secretary was far from easy. Everyone in the office had already been gossiping about Mr Mahone and Ms. Berlick’s delayed engagement, and now my presence only fueled their speculation. Some murmured that I had something to do with the delay. Others whispered that I was Mr Mahone’s mistress and the reason for his reluctance. The rumors were relentless, but I had learned to ignore them. My reputation was already tainted by my association with Mr Mahone, and no amount of denial or indifference would stop people from talking. But rumors weren’t what troubled me the most. It was Laura. Laura works in the Secretary office and has been a thorn on my flesh since my return. Laura was the kind of person who demanded attention without even trying. She had just graduated from college the year before, and it showed in her energy and enthusiasm. Everything about her was youthful, her bright, eager eyes, her bubbly personality, and
Sophia’s POV “Do you know about Sophia? ” one of them said, his voice growing clearer as they discussed and my name happened in their conversation did caught my attention. I hesitated, torn between continuing my work and getting up to leave. I wasn’t one to listen to gossip, but something about their tone kept me rooted to the spot. “Yeah,” the second man replied. “The newbee to the secretary office. I heard she was invited by our dear Mr. Cold Face boss . Can you believe it? Mr. Mahone would ask for a woman by himself all those years. ” I gripped the screwdriver tightly, the metal biting into my palm. “What are you talking about?” the first man asked, “But he was going to engage to Cindy Berlick “Everyone knows Mr Mahone canceled that big project with Ms Berlick’s company, right?” the second man said, his voice tinged with drama. “Apparently, Ms. Berlick found out it had something to do with Sophia Scofield. Words is, Mr Mahone did it to protect her!” The first man let ou
Sophia’s POVI stayed in the office late into the night, triple-checking every detail of the presentation I was preparing for Mr Mahone. The stakes were high, and I couldn’t afford to make a single mistake. By the time I finished, the final file was ready: precise, polished, and flawless. I saved it to the secure server and printed a few hard copies for the meeting the next morning. My body ached from sitting at my desk for hours, but a sense of accomplishment settled over me as I turned off my computer and left the office. The next morning, I arrived early to ensure everything was set up in the boardroom. As I placed the hard copies on the table and opened the file on the shared screen, a sinking feeling hit me. This wasn’t the version I’d prepared. The document on display was an older, outdated draft filled with glaring errors. My heart plummeted as I flipped through the hard copies they were the same. “No, no, no,” I whispered, frantically pulling up the server to locate
Sophia’s POVI set up the resumes of five potential candidates on Mr Mahone’s desk. My resolve was unwavering. I needed to find a replacement for myself so I could finally leave. I had spent the previous night combing through applications and speaking with candidates. These five were among the best. At least, I believed so. Mr Mahone, of course, had agreed to let me search for my replacement, but I wasn’t naïve. I knew him well enough to expect resistance. Still, I was determined to follow through. The first candidate arrived promptly at 9:00 a.m., a tall man in his late thirties. His posture was confident, and his handshake firm. He wore a crisp navy suit that exudes professionalism, and his polished shoes reflected the light streaming through the windows. “Good morning,” the man said, smiling politely. “My name is Andrew Carter.” Michael sat behind his desk, arms folded, and gestured for Andrew to take a seat. Andrew launched into his qualifications. “I have ten years
Michael’s POVSophia’s words replayed in my mind, each one sharper than the last. Her defiance wasn’t just unexpected,it was infuriating. She had never spoken to me like that before, not in such a manner and tone. It wasn’t just what she said, but the way she looked at me, unafraid, as though she had nothing left to lose. “Done being your toy while you go home to your perfect fiancée,” she had said. The accusation burned in my chest. How dare she presume to know anything about my life? About me? And yet... I couldn’t shake the nagging question: where had she found the courage to stand up to me like that? What had pushed her to the edge? Then her words about her debt came back to me. “You’re behind all of it, aren’t you? Cindy buying out the company I owe, the inflated debt!,it’s all part of your plan to keep me under your thumb.” My eyes fell to the debt statement sitting on my desk. The bold numbers stared back at me like a taunt, and a cold realization crept over me.
Sophia’s POV I hadn’t slept. The anxiety of the past few days had settled and aches in my chest, making every breath feel heavier than the last. But staying at home wasn’t an option anymore. Crystal’s words echoed in my mind as I walked into the office. “You can’t keep running, Sophia. Sooner or later, you’ll have to face him.”The tension in the air hit me the moment I stepped into the building. Colleagues exchanged glances as I walked past, their whispers barely contained. The hum of the office felt louder than usual, every noise grating on my already frayed nerves. And then, the inevitable came. “Mr. Mahone wants to see you in his office,” Laura said, her tone laced with satisfaction as she passed by my desk. Of course i said. I took a deep breath and made my way to his office, determined to face whatever storm that awaited me. Mr Mahone was seated at his desk, his piercing eyes locked onto me the moment I entered the room. He gestured for me to close the door, and
Sophia’s POVIt had been two days since I’d gone to work. Two days of ignoring the ringing phone, unanswered emails, and mounting anxiety. I tried to convince myself it wasn’t a big deal. What was the worst that could happen? It wasn’t like the company would collapse without me. But as I lay on Crystal’s couch, the thought that I was avoiding more than just work refused to leave me. The calls from the office were relentless, and when Mr. Mahone’s number flashed on the screen yesterday, I’d silenced it without hesitation. Even now, the phone vibrated again, another incoming call from a department I didn’t care to check. “I’ll deal with it later,” I muttered to myself, turning over and burying my face in the pillow. But when my phone lit up again, this time with Williams’s name, my heart sank. Williams. The one person I didn’t want to deal with right now. Since the night of their last dinner, I haven't spoken to him. It wasn’t because I didn’t care about him or apprecia
Michael’s POVTwo days. That’s how long it had been since Sophia last showed up for work. Her phone was unreachable, and the only thing filling the void of her absence was my growing irritation. My patience had worn thin by the second day. Sophia knew better than to neglect her responsibilities,especially after everything we had been through. By the time I arrived at her apartment that evening, my irritation had turned into quiet fury. But when I knocked on the door, there was no answer. I waited, my frustration increasing with each passing second. I called her phone again, only to be met with the same hollow voicemail message I’d heard all day. My thoughts turned to Williams. Could it be that Sophia neglected work to go and spend time with Williams? I ask questions with no one to answer them.So this is what she had chosen to do. Abandon work to wallow in the attention of someone who didn’t deserve her. I clenched my fists, my jaw tightened as I turned and walked back t
Sophia’s POVI walked into the building where I’d been depositing payments on my debt for months. I had just withdrawn $2,000 to make another payment, and while it wasn’t much. The balance on my last statement was $98,000 manageable, considering how far I’d come since the beginning. But something was off. The usual office space was dimly lit, a few construction workers hammering away at the walls. Signs reading “Under Renovation Services Temporarily Relocated” hung erratically on the doors. “Excuse me,” I asked one of the workers. “Where’s the payment office now?” He barely looked at me before pointing toward a map on the wall. “Temporary warehouse, a block down,” he said. The unease that had settled in my chest earlier grew heavier. A warehouse? Why would a debt company relocate to a warehouse? The warehouse was an unremarkable gray building, its exterior faded and covered in graffiti. Inside, the air was stuffy and smelled faintly of dust and sweat. A single clerk sat b
Michael’s POV I arrived home later than usual after my moms confrontation, as I stepped into the house, the faint sound of hushed voices and the shuffle of movement caught my attention. In the hallway near the kitchen, I saw Martha, my chef of over seven years, clutching a box of her belongings. Her face was pale, her expression weary as she handed a small envelope to a member of the household staff. “Martha?” I called out, my voice sharper than I intended. She froze and turned to face me, with her hands trembling. “Mr. Mahone,” she said softly, lowering her eyes. “What’s going on?” I asked, gesturing to the box in her hands. “I’m leaving, sir,” she replied, her voice laced with sadness. “Leaving?” I repeated, incredulous. “Why? I didn’t approve of this.” Martha hesitated, glancing around as if unsure whether to answer. Finally, she sighed. “Ms Berlick fired me, sir.” A wave of irritation surged through me. “Cindy fired you? For what reason?” Her gaze dropped to the
Michael’s POV The sharp sound of my office door opening pulled my attention from the report I was reviewing. My mother, Mrs Mahone, swept in without waiting for an invitation, her heels clicked against the marble floor with purpose. “Michael,” she said crisply, her voice tinged with that familiar mix of impatience and authority. “We need to talk.” I suppressed a sigh, leaning back in my chair. My mother rarely came by unannounced unless there was something weighing on her mind,something I was sure I wouldn’t want to hear. “Mother,” I said, keeping my tone neutral. “This is unexpected.” She crossed the room and sat in the chair opposite me, her posture was regal as ever. “It’s about the wedding,” she began, her sharp gaze locking onto mine. Ah. Of course. “You’ve been stalling,” she said, in an accusatory tone. “The engagement has been public for months, Michael. Yet here we are, with no date set, no plans made, and no progress whatsoever. What exactly are you waiting for